The intelligent interface ushers in new era for Samsung’s mobile expe…

Introducing #Bixby Voice Capabilities in U.S English on the #GalaxyS8

The intelligent interface ushers in new era for Samsung’s mobile experience and solutions

Today, Samsung is taking another step forward towards helping people get more out of their connected lives by introducing Bixby voice capabilities for U.S. English in the United States and Korea. Bixby’s added functionality will let users seamlessly navigate their phones and easily switch between voice commands, touch, vision and text. Bixby is an intelligent interface available on the Galaxy S8 and S8+ that makes interacting with your device, services and apps more instinctive and seamless.

Due to a rich legacy of mobile innovation, Samsung is uniquely positioned to offer a mobile experience and solutions that seamlessly integrate with, and power, its devices. As the heart of Samsung’s offerings, Bixby’s intelligent interface was designed to power users’ devices, apps and services, allowing easy control of smartphones and beyond.

With full voice capabilities for U.S. English, Bixby can help users get more out of their connected lives. With voice capabilities, Galaxy S8 and S8+ users can easily activate voice commands to get more done in their day – simply and efficiently. Users can ask Bixby to complete simple tasks, like turning on the flashlight or taking a selfie, or complex tasks, like “remind me to pick up milk at the grocery store,” or “find photos I took in Spain and create an album called ‘Vacation.’”

At launch, Bixby will be fully integrated across core Samsung apps, so almost anything you could do with touch or typing, you can now do with your voice, including multi-step, and cross-app requests. Support for additional native and third-party apps will be available via Bixby Labs, which includes select applications that are offering preliminary integration with Bixby. Because Bixby is deeply integrated into the device – rather than in a standalone application – users can easily switch between voice, touch or text commands, providing a unique experience over current voice assistants on the market.

“At Samsung, we are dedicated to creating the best possible user experience for our customers. That’s why we designed Bixby – it’s an intelligent interface that allows you to do more things with your phone. We want to offer a truly multimodal experience, so that users can interact with their phone in many different ways – through sight, touch, typing or voice – all of the most natural ways to interact with the world, available on your smartphone,” says Injong Rhee, Executive Vice President, Head of R&D, Software and Services of Mobile Communications Business, Samsung Electronics. “And as the Bixby ecosystem grows, it will use its completeness, context awareness and cognitive tolerance to evolve from a smartphone interface to the interface for your life,” he continues.

Voice capabilities for Bixby can be activated by pushing the dedicated Bixby hardware button located on the side of the Galaxy S8 and S8+, or by simply saying “Hi Bixby.” Bixby understands natural language, so users can complete tasks by using everyday speech, rather than pre-set and inflexible commands. Through iterative deep learning technology, Bixby can improve over time to recognize the user’s different preferences and ways of speaking.

Galaxy S8 and S8+ users in the U.S. can start using Bixby’s voice service immediately by updating the application to the latest software version. Bixby’s voice capabilities are currently available in Korean and U.S. English in South Korea and the United States on the Galaxy S8 and S8+. Samsung will continuously expand this service with additional languages and devices in the near future.

For more information, please visit: http://www.samsung.com/global/galaxy/apps/bixby/

Original Source: https://news.samsung.com/global/samsung-expands-bixby-voice-capabilities-in-u-s-english

Samsung’s Galaxy S8 and S8+ have received a Gold rating from the Electronic Product Environment…

Galaxy S8 and S8+ Receive EPEAT Gold Rating

Samsung’s Galaxy S8 and S8+ have received a Gold rating from the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT), the definitive rating system for evaluating electronic devices’ eco-friendliness. The devices are the first smartphones to earn the certification, which assesses, among other criteria, material selection, product longevity, the manufacturer’s social contributions, and energy conservation during production and use.

The certification is a joint initiative of the non-profit Green Electronics Council and Underwriters Laboratories (UL), a global safety science organization. The rating was earned in recognition of Samsung’s efforts to produce the devices in a sustainable way, which included increasing the efficiency of their chargers, using recycled plastics in accessories, and other eco-friendly measures.

This distinction is the second that the Galaxy S8 and S8+ have received from UL. This past June, the organization’s UL Environment division awarded both devices ECOLOGO Gold Certification to the ANSI/UL 110 Standard for Sustainability for Mobile Phones.

In addition to receiving a top EPEAT rating, both the Galaxy S8 and S8+ have also been given a “Carbon Footprint Label” from the Carbon Trust, a leading authority on carbon-reduction programs and certifications, as well as a “Vitality Leaf” eco-label from the Russian Ecological Union.

Original Source:https://news.samsung.com/global/galaxy-s8-and-s8-receive-epeat-gold-rating

Samsung’s Wireless Charger Convertible, which was released with the Gal…

Charged Up: The Evolution of Samsung’s Wireless Charging Technology

Samsung’s Wireless Charger Convertible, which was released with the Galaxy S8 and S8+, features a modern, highly versatile design that beautifully blends into just about any home or workplace environment. While it offers users a more convenient and intuitive means to charge Qi-compatible mobile vices, it’s only the newest of the company’s wireless charging products, which have evolved both in function and form since they were first developed.

Taking Charge of New TechIn late 2000, Samsung created a special team designed exclusively to focus on wireless charging, and began extensive research and development. The goal was to develop a technology that was convenient and easy to use in order to promote and drive the widespread adoption of wireless technology standards.

The Wireless Charging Era BeginsHowever, it wasn’t until early 2015 that Samsung embedded a wireless charging integrated circuit (IC) into its Galaxy S6 and S6 edge devices, making wireless charging a basic option for smartphone users.

Unlike previous devices, its new Wireless Charging Pad (EP-PG920) incorporated glass-like materials to match the aesthetics of the phone. It was also circular in shape, which made it easier for consumers to locate the center of the device, the area where the charger connects to the smartphone via an electromagnetic field.

A New Design for the TimesNow, Samsung’s iconic circular wireless charger has evolved even further with the fast-charging Wireless Charger Convertible (EP-PG950).

With three embedded wireless charging coils, which cover more real estate on the circular pad, the charger offers users more leeway during use, allowing them to position their phone horizontally or even askew while still ensuring a steady charge. Furthermore, the device’s soft contours and premium, leather-like materials make it equally suitable for placement in the office, the living room or on the user’s bedside table.

Original Source: https://news.samsung.com/global/charged-up-the-evolution-of-samsungs-wireless-charging-technology

#Bixby 101: Get to Know the Ins and Outs of Samsung’s Intelligent Interface

Bixby is an intelligent interface that makes interacting with y…

#Bixby 101: Get to Know the Ins and Outs of Samsung’s Intelligent Interface

Bixby is an intelligent interface that makes interacting with your device, services and apps more seamless and instinctive. Bixby’s deep integration, contextual awareness and newly launched U.S. English voice support offer an assistant unlike any other – one that’s intelligent enough to learn your habits, and even your manner of speaking, and respond accordingly.

But how exactly does Bixby work, and how can you ensure that you’re getting the most out of it? Here are some common questions and answers to help you get better acquainted with the intuitive interface.

Q. How do I activate Bixby Voice?

You can activate Bixby by saying “Hi, Bixby,” or by either pressing or holding its dedicated button (located under the volume controls of your compatible device) and dictating your request.

Q. Does Bixby get smarter the more I use it?

Yes, it does. Thanks to Bixby’s iterative deep learning technology, the more you use the interface, the smarter it gets.

For example, whenever you’re not satisfied with its response, Bixby will work with you to learn how to better serve your needs. Each time Bixby responds to a command, it presents you with the option to “Teach me” – to select a more appropriate response from a list of similar commands. The next time you make that request, Bixby will remember exactly what you wanted it to do.

Q. What languages and dialects does Bixby understand?

Bixby Voice is currently available in Korea and the U.S., and supports commands in Korean and U.S. English. Users in the U.S. and Korea can switch between Korean and English by adjusting Bixby’s language settings.

Bixby’s understanding of natural language is what allows it to learn dialects. We’ve taught Bixby various dialects’ distinct intonations, vocabulary and grammatical structures, and we’re currently working on providing support for more.

With Quick Commands, users can replace a long request, such as “Track my run using the Samsung Health app,” with a short, simple command, such as “Run.” These shortcuts allow you to interact more seamlessly with your phone. Quick Commands may be accessed under Bixby Home’s “My Bixby” menu.

Q. What is Bixby Vision, and how does it work?

Bixby Vision was designed to provide you with a deeper understanding of what you’re looking at, allowing you to use your camera to easily scan and search for relevant information on the objects and places around you.

Bixby Vision offers information on everything from purchasing options for a particular product to details on your current location and even the bottle of wine you’re enjoying. It is also capable of scanning business cards and performing convenient translations.

After scanning an object, users can use Bixby Vision’s image search function to locate it online. Once Bixby has identified the object, it will automatically pull up related images on Pinterest.

Bixby Vision works best in bright environments, and when you hold your camera steady. The screen should not be upside down, and if the object in focus is a product, it should be captured from the front to aid identification.

Q. How is Reminder different from my device’s clock or calendar app?

Reminder lets users do much more than simply log an appointment or create an alarm.

The function utilizes Bixby’s voice support and contextual awareness to allow users to set smart reminders for specified times, places or circumstances.

Reminder is also integrated into other apps. You can use Reminder to save webpage URLs in the Samsung Internet app, as well as messages that you’d like to get back to later in the Messages app. You can also pin reminders to your device’s Always On Display to make them visible at all times, and access your collected reminders via your device’s edge panel.

Q. What is Bixby Home, and how does it cater to users’ individual needs?

Bixby Home serves as a gateway to Bixby’s various functions and presents your most contextually relevant apps and services on a single screen, so the content you care about is just a swipe away.

Bixby learns your routine and serves up the information you need when you need it. It looks for patterns in your app usage to predict what you might be looking for, and when you’re most likely to look for it. The more you use your smartphone, the more relevant Bixby’s content suggestions will become.

Bixby Home will automatically populate based on your actions, but you can also customize the experience to best suit your needs. You also have the options to pin your favorite cards to the top of your Home page for easy reference, and hide any cards that you no longer wish to see.

Users may choose to delete data that Bixby saves from Bixby’s settings at any time. Bixby only collects data necessary to improve or personalize your experience, and ensures that your personal information is never transmitted.

For more information, please visit: http://www.samsung.com/global/galaxy/apps/bixby/

Original Source: https://news.samsung.com/global/bixby-101-get-to-know-the-ins-and-outs-of-samsungs-intelligent-interface

"I thought if they can do it, why can't I? I challenge old ideas & show my vulnerability." Rosie Hardy is The Photographer. Watch th…

"I thought if they can do it, why can't I? I challenge old ideas & show my vulnerability." Rosie Hardy is The Photographer. Watch the full #GirlPowered film with i-D directed by Bonnie Wright. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFZiI7Wv79I&t=4s